Voter advocacy groups, including the League of Women Voters, have told a state panel that Republican-drawn boundaries for state legislative districts would further solidify the party's grip on the Ohio Legislature for years to come.

Voter advocacy groups, including the League of Women Voters, have told a state panel that Republican-drawn boundaries for state legislative districts would further solidify the party’s grip on the Ohio Legislature for years to come.

The groups testified Monday at a hearing of the Ohio Apportionment Board.

The panel is charged with redrawing Ohio’s legislative districts every 10 years to reflect changes in population after each census.

One GOP-drawn plan would pit three House Democrats against Republicans, and several other Democrats could potentially compete with one another in merged Democratic districts.

The maps await the board’s approval, which could come at their Wednesday meeting.

The Apportionment Board consists of four Republicans and one Democrat. It’s chaired by Republican Gov. John Kasich, who says he supports the GOP staff’s proposal.

]]>It looks like a planned Walmart in Westerville will be built.Â Opponents of the store fell 36 valid signatures short of what they needed to force a vote on the project. Many say Walmart hurts communities by offering pricesÂ locally-owned stores cannot compete with. Others argue Walmart has given people a chance to save money and buy big items like TV’s and other electronics at much lower prices.Â What do you think? Is Walmart good or bad for local communities?

A citizen effort to block Walmart from building a new store in Westerville has hit another snag.

The Franklin County Board of Elections on Tuesday ruled organizers fell 36 signatures short of the number needed to put a referendum before voters next year.

Attorney Don McTigue represents the group of citizens trying to keep Walmart out of the north Columbus suburb. He says todayâ€™s ruling is not the end of the referendum effort.

“We’ll be reviewing the signatures that were rejected by the board. We’ll then be able to advise our clients as to what their options are,” McTigue says.

Elections officials say they received about 2,327 sigantures, but only 1,643 were ruled valid. Supporters needed to gather 1,679 signatures to put a referendum before voters next year. McTigue says activists wanted to gather more signatures to give them a safety net, but they didn’t have time.

The move by Secretary of State Jon Husted on Monday comes as several county boards of elections have struggled over whether to send out applications. A spokesman for the Republican Husted says he wanted to provide clear guidance to boards, and issued the directive to the state’s 88 counties in order to have uniformity.

Boards in Ohio’s larger, urban, which tend to vote more Democratic, have typically sent unsolicited absentee ballot applications to registered voters. Some included return postage with ballots.

The law, which has seen strong opposition from voters' rights group, shortens the state's early voting period, does away with the week when people can register to vote and cast a ballot on the same day, and bans in-person early voting on Sundays.

Opponents of Ohioâ€™s recent election changes have been cleared to move forward with their effort to ask voters if the law should stay on the books.

The law shortens the state’s early voting period, does away with the week when people can register to vote and cast a ballot on the same day, and bans in-person early voting on Sundays.

Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted on Thursday ruled the Fair Elections Ohio group has the 1,000 valid signatures needed to continue with its effort. Attorney General Mike DeWine has also approved the group’s summary language of the legislation, which will be used on future petitions.

In a party-line vote yesterday, the Ohio Senate passed a bill Republicans say makes several important changes to state election law.

The measure ends the so-called “Golden Week” when people can register and cast a ballot at the same time, and shortens the in-person early voting period. Senator Shirley Smith was among the Democrats saying the bill goes too far.

“I have no doubt that at the rate we’re going, in the very near future we’ll be asked to show a birth mark before we can cast our ballot,” Smith said.

The measure also lets people change voter registration details online. The Senate bill must now be reconciled with an election bill passed in the House last week.

Voters decided school tax issues in a handful of Central Ohio district on Tuesday. Hilliard and Canal Winchester levies went down to defeat, while voters in Olentangy and Gahanna school districts gave a green light to more money for classrooms.

Voters decided school tax issues in a handful of Central Ohio district on Tuesday. Hilliard and Canal Winchester levies went down to defeat, while voters in Olentangy and Gahanna school districts gave a green light to more money for classrooms.

Other election results, New Albany voters narrowly rejected a proposed tax levy for city parks. Voters in Madison and Mifflin townships in Franklin County approved permanent tax levies for police and fire services. Delaware county voters overwhelmingly approved levies for 9-1-1 service and for developmental disability operations.

Overall 20 percent of eligible voters turned out for the May primary and WOSU’s Sam Hendren reports school issues were the main draw to the polls.

Ben Piscatelli of the Franklin County Board of elections made this prediction before voting began ” You know it’s not unusual when you have a school levy for 50 percent of the voters to turn out in those precincts so we’ll just have to wait and see.”

But Election Day was cold and rainy and by afternoon, Piscatelli was describing the turnout as “slow but steady.” That was indeed the case at the North Orange Aquatic Center in southern Delaware County one of the polling locations where voters were deciding the fate of a levy for Olentangy Local Schools. At times there were no cars in the parking lot, other times voters trickled in and out.

Olentangy Local Schools was seeking a $7.9 million operating levy. That means the owner of a home valued at $100,000 would pay an additional $242 dollars a year in taxes. Kelly Lewis and Rebecca Gutcher say they both voted for the increase. First Kelly Lewis:

“I have four kids – three have graduated from Olentangy Schools and I have one left in there and I know that these are tough economic times but I wanted to support the schools,” Lewis said.

Now Rebecca Gutcher

“This is our community we want to keep it up and running we want our schools to be as good as they can be. So I voted affirmatively” Says Gutcher.

Activity at Community Congregational Church in Gahanna was a bit more steady. Voters were deciding how they would deal with a request from Gahanna-Jefferson Schools for a $5.2 million operating levy which would cost the owner of a $100,000 home $160 more a year in taxes. This is voter Ken Novotny

“I voted for the levy… I think they’ve made a lot of cuts, I see that some teachers have gotten laid off. And I don’t think that’s a good thing. I feel that they need the help,” Novotny said.

But Frank Stasko was adamantly opposed to the increase.

“I think it should be turned down. I think the teachers’ salaries are too high they don’t work like we used to work, you know – 50 some weeks out of the year. They get several days off during their working year and then summertime so considering all of that I think their salaries are just too high compared to retired people which I am and I’m not making any raises or nothing so I’m just going to have to watch out for myself and that’s it,” Stasko said.

]]>http://wosu.org/2012/news/2011/05/04/voters-give-mixed-results-for-school-levies/feed/0education,elections,primary,schoolsVoters decided school tax issues in a handful of Central Ohio district on Tuesday. Hilliard and Canal Winchester levies went down to defeat, while voters in Olentangy and Gahanna school districts gave a green light to more money for classrooms.Voters decided school tax issues in a handful of Central Ohio district on Tuesday. Hilliard and Canal Winchester levies went down to defeat, while voters in Olentangy and Gahanna school districts gave a green light to more money for classrooms.WOSU Newsno2:40Few Races, Issues, Highlight Ohio Primaryhttp://wosu.org/2012/news/2011/05/03/few-races-issues-highlight-ohio-primary/
http://wosu.org/2012/news/2011/05/03/few-races-issues-highlight-ohio-primary/#commentsTue, 03 May 2011 04:00:00 +0000WOSU News Staffhttp://wosu.org/2012/news/2011/05/03/few-races-issues-highlight-ohio-primary/

Voting is underway in the 2011 primary. School officials in Canal Winchester, Gahanna, Hilliard and Olentangy are asking voters for new money. Franklin County Board of Elections spokesman Ben Piscatelli says turnout will likely spike in some precincts.

Voting is underway in the 2011 primary. School officials in Canal Winchester, Gahanna, Hilliard and Olentangy are asking voters for new money. Franklin County Board of Elections spokesman Ben Piscatelli says turnout will likely spike in some precincts.

“Its not unusual when you have a school levy for 50 percent of those voters to turn out in those precincts,” Piscatelli says.

Polls are open until 7:30 tonight.

The Ohio secretary of state’s office says voters in 64 counties will decide 381 issues. Republicans in Hilliard and Reynoldsburg will pare the field of candidates for city council races.

]]>Counties around central Ohio report modest voter turnout so far in today’s election and few problems with voting equipment.

Matt Damschroder is the deputy director of elections in Franklin county. He says they’ve had some minor problems, but nothing to turn away frustrated voters.

“Things like one poll worker oversleeping,” Damschroder says.

Damschroder expects about 50 percent of registered voters in Franklin county to cast a ballot this year, with state election officials making similar projections. But Ohio State University political scientist Herb Asher says early voting has made turnout harder to predict in recent elections.

“That’s one of the challenges the pollsters have had this year, is how do you calculate the likely electorate,” Damschroder says.

Asher made his comment on WOSU’s “All Sides with Ann Fisher” this morning.

Meanwhile, Ohio Congressman and U.S. House Republican leader John Boehner sees a big day ahead for his party.

Boehner is in line to become speaker if Republicans gain a majority in the House, and he said this morning they have “a real opportunity” to do so. He also called the election a chance for those unhappy with government spending, takeovers and bailouts to make their voices heard.

]]>http://wosu.org/2012/news/2010/11/02/local-election-officials-report-few-problems-through-early-afternoon/feed/0Early Voters In Franklin County Offer Clues To Election.http://wosu.org/2012/news/2010/11/01/early-voters-in-franklin-county-offer-clues-to-election/
http://wosu.org/2012/news/2010/11/01/early-voters-in-franklin-county-offer-clues-to-election/#commentsMon, 01 Nov 2010 04:00:00 +0000Tom Borgerdinghttp://wosu.org/2012/news/2010/11/01/early-voters-in-franklin-county-offer-clues-to-election/The 2010 political campaign is about over. But already, thousands of voters in Ohio have cast ballots through early voting. At the Franklin County Board of elections on East Broad Street a steady stream of voters showed up on Sunday to make their preferences

]]>The 2010 political campaign is about over. But already, thousands of voters in Ohio have cast ballots through early voting. At the Franklin County Board of elections on East Broad Street on Sunday a steady stream of voters showed up to make their preferences,including Manuel DuBose of Columbus. DuBose said he wanted to make sure he voted on the Columbus Library Levy and the proposed charter amendment. But he also senses a gravityto this midterm election where statewide offices and the control of congress are at stake.

“I feel this is just as important race as the presidential race because I’m not against no person of the United States but republicans are trying to do things that I’m not for.”

Paul Stewart of Columbus says he particularly wanted to vote the top of the ticket.

“The Governor. I just think, I mean, Strickland had some more, I mean he had enough time to do better but I just think we need to give him a little more time to see what happens. Plus, Kasich, he was with Wall Street. You know, I don’t deal with that.”

Several minutes after DuBose and Stewart exited the polls, Keith Davis showed up at the Board of Elections. He says there was no way he would miss out on this election

“Well I’m working out of town this week and I wanted to make sure I got an opportunity to vote.”

Davis tuned in to the political campaigns. Like Stewart he says the race at the top of the ticket is too important to ignore.

“The reason I’m here to vote is because I don’t agree with the change that the country is currently taking. Q: Is there a particular race or several races that brought you to voting today? The Governor’s race. Strickland has not performed the way I anticipated. I’m definitely more Republican than Democrat on most issues. I do vote individually though. And I definitely think Kasich has a better background.

On the perimeter of the parking lot at the Board of Elections, voters were offered fliers on local candidates and issues. Tina Proctor offered her assessment of campaign 2010.

“I think people need to calm down. Its a situation that we’re in right now in America where we just have to be patient.”

Leah Hout of Columbus had a more personal reason for casting a vote. She says her aunt has been on her case about voting this year.

“She’s been encouraging me to come out and do early voting for a couple of days and I actually got tired of her asking me so I said I’m going to go down on Sunday and do it.”

David Schubert says he’s doing his own get out the vote campaign

“I think people are very lax and just going to try blow this one off. I think. So I’m doing my part to get everybody up and out, out to vote.”

Schubert’s personal get out the vote campaign included taking a two and a half hour trip Sunday morning to pick up his college age son, Scott, at Miami University and bringing him back to Columbus to vote.

“Dad calls me up and he says, Scott I’m coming to pick you up at 8 a.m. on Sunday and I said no you’re not you’re coming to pick me up at ten on Sunday and I will come home and vote So, if you don’t vote you don’t have anything to complain about. So that’s why I’ came back.”

But the younger Schubert says few of his college-aged friends are politically engaged this year unlike two years ago.

“You know a lot of my friends even at school aren’t voting and they voted back in the presidential election and everybody was really hyped up about it. Obviously, because this country is going through a lot of major changes right now.”

Today is the last day of early voting at the Franklin County Board of Elections. Polls open tomorrow morning at 6:30 ..Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner predicts when all the ballots are counted about 52 per cent of eligible voters will cast a ballot.

]]>http://wosu.org/2012/news/2010/11/01/early-voters-in-franklin-county-offer-clues-to-election/feed/0electionsThe 2010 political campaign is about over. But already, thousands of voters in Ohio have cast ballots through early voting. At the Franklin County Board of elections on East Broad Street a steady stream of voters showed up on Sunday to make their prefe...The 2010 political campaign is about over. But already, thousands of voters in Ohio have cast ballots through early voting. At the Franklin County Board of elections on East Broad Street a steady stream of voters showed up on Sunday to make their preferencesWOSU Newsno3:35